Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-19
The following is an interesting letter

an ominous shake of the head, indi-
eating that, ms pilotof the ship, he feared
the breakers were almost in sight L
never approach any duty with "a heavy
heart, and instead of feeling that "the
Appomattox of the situation is nearly
reached, Iregard the situation as much
more favorable to the State than 1t has
been at any time during the past year.
The bondholders commenced the cam
paign encouraged by the decisions of
the Supreme Court rendered in Janu-
ary last, with the expectation and belief
that they would recover exemplary or
punitive damages against the county
treasurers and speedily crush out all
opposition on the part of the State
They have, however, been wofully de
ceived they met their "Appomattox
when they encountered Virginia jury
standing "like stone wall, which
refused to give them exemplary or pu-
nitiye damages, and, indeed, only re-
funded the taxes paid in obedience to
the peremptory instructions of the
court. Commencing the litigation with
the declaration that they rejoiced in
the act providing indemnity for
county treasurers that they could have
speedy payments of the large iudg-
ments for punitive damages which
they confidently expected to recover,
they close the year with an appeal to
the United States Court to enjoin the
Board OF Indemnity from doing that
which they at the outset reloiced the
Board had been authorized to do.
With all the efforts of their paid agents
and costly advertisements, they have
completely failed to cajole the tax-pay-
ers Of the State, and have rounded up
discomfted at every point with an in
considerable amount of coupons used
by Taxpayers, and indictments pending
against their leading attorneys and
agents, including their principal one,
Mr. Cooper, who has sailed for Europe.
They are perfectly welcome to all the
satisfaction they can derive from the
"situatiOn so far as ] am concerned.
As to the important cases now pending
in the Circuit Court of the United States,
one beingan application for an injunc-
ton against the Indemnity Board, and
the other for n mandamus to compel
the Auditor and Treasurer to receive
coupons from county treasurer, |
have no hesitancy in saying that | am
firmly convinced that the court has no
jurisdiction whatever in either case,
and hope o be enabled to show this
upon the hearing in Baltimore on the
| 2Sth instant. Should the decision of
the court be adverse to the State | will
at once take prompt measures tO have
it reviewed by the Supreme Court Of
the United States. The statutes of
Virginia have been upheld, and will he
upheld by me before every court in
which their validity is challenged until
a court of competent and final jurisdic-
ton has pronounced them invalid. II
would be idle at this day 10 deny that
the Constitution and laws of the United
States, as construed by the Supreme
Court, is the law of the land i'll cases to
which the decisions are properly appli-
cable but it is denied that these deci-
sions have any authority or binding eff
cacy in suits against the State, OF which
theUnited States Courts have no juris-
diction, either original or appellate.
The Supreme Court, it is true, has,
by a divided bench of five against four,
decided that the suits in the form in
which they are brought are not suits
against the State; but Virginia is not
satisfied with these decisions. In my
reply TO Mr.. Royals brief filed upon IA
motion in the Supreme Court of the
United States for special rule apph-
cable to Virginia coupon cases by
which they were TO be advanced and
heard in preference 10 other cases
used the following language TO the
Court: II do not come as an apologist
for Virginia or to ask any favors for
her at the hands of the Court, but do
ask that she have equal consideration
with other parties itigant, and that her
opponents be granted no special priyi-
leges. Virginia has not given over her
claim to exemption from suit in the
Federal courts, and at the proper time
and in a proper case she willagain present
the question for argument that these
suits are substantially and in reality
suits against the State, prohibited by
the eleventh amendment to the Consti-
tuition" hope the proper time "
will come, and that very soon.
These are the views | entertain, and
/ favor the enforcement of the terms of
the Riddleberger act by all lawful
means within the power Of the State.
In conclusion, cannot refrain from
saying that the people have in their
hands the speedy solution OF this whole
question. II they will only be true to
themselves and spurn every offer of
coupons upon any terms the agitation
will cease and the offer 6f settlement be
accepted and become effective.
Taxpayers who pay or tender cou-
pons lend themselves to the schemes Of
the bondholders, become parties TO the
persecution of old Virginia, and are re-
sponsible for her being implicated like
a common malefactor in the subordi-
nate courts of the United States. Ii is
not to be supposed that the coupons are
sold to the people at fifty cents on the
dollar out Of any love for or desire to
favor them. No, indeed; the bond
holders only seek in that way to have
the people contribute TO their own I'M
doing. Once break down the barrier
to the treasury and no more coupons
will be sold for fifty cents. A settle
ment has been offered which the people
have again and again declared is their
ultimatum. Let it be accepted.
In my opinion the man who, under
the present circumstances pays his
taxes in coupons, is not entitled to the
respect or consideration Of the larg,
body Of his friends and neighbors who,
by paying in money, are endeavoring tS
prevent the direst Of all evils-the uttel
population Of the entire principal O.
the debt.
There is no power in Government
that can withstand or overcome unitet
people, and il remains to be seer
whether they viii stand together ane